Fertilizer-distributer.



No. 867,019. P ATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. .S. K. DENNIS P. W. RICE.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTBR.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7m 9 4. v l Z m w. fimww m J W 5 J 2 5 I 7 Fw Hm 2 PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

S. K. DENNIS & P. W. RICE.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 one 0 0 0 o o o oo n A i No. 867,019. PA-TENTED SEPT. 2'4 190? s. K. DENNIS & F. w. RICE.

FERTILIZER. DISTRIBUTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' UNITE ATES PATE T. OFFICE.

SAMU EL K. DENNIS AND FRANK W. RICE, OFOHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO INTER- NATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATIONDF NEW JERSEY.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

v To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL K. DENNIS and FRANK W. RICE, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Fertilizer-Distributers, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relatesto fertilizer distributers, but

-more particularly to the endgate and mountings for same, which are arranged in front of the distributing cylinder, and to the construction and control of the I means for locking the apron against rearward movement when the apron driving mechanism is not in operation Theobject in view is'to simplify and cheaper! the construction of various parts and to produce an endg te which will be held rigidly when in its lower positi 11 against the pressure of the load, and when in its upper position will float and thereby operate as a rake upon ofthe parts shown in Fig. ,3. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the construction of the casting in which is supported the forward or free end of the vibratory wormshaft, Fig. 6 is a detail of cam and sector which regulates the effective throw of the actuating pawls. Fig. 7 is a detail view designed to illustrate the manner in which movement is imparted to the pawl arms by the toothed eccentric link; Fig. 8 is a detail taken on the line 8-8 of Fig; 1,

and Fig. 9 is a view showing in full lines the end-gate in I its raised position with the movable fulcrum in its'upward and forward position, and in'dotted linesthe same in'its floating position.

In the drawings the box or body of'the distributeror spreader designated by the numeral 1, '2 the supporting wheel's therefor, and 3 the usual movable apron mounted the bottom thereof. The rear end of the apron 3' is supported upon and driven by the apron shaft 4, to the outer end of which isfixed .the worm gear 5. At the rear end of the body is journal'ed the shaft 6, on which is mouilted the toothed distributing cylinder 7. The distributing cylinder 7 is driven in the following manner: A sprocket wheel 2 rotates with the arile of the supporting wheel 2. A gearwheel 6 is secured to one end of the distributing cylinder shaft 6, and suitably journaled on the machine frame, adjacent thereto, is a sprocket wheel 2, and fixed thereto is a pinion 2", the latter meshing with and driving the pinion 6 on the shaft 6 A sprocket chain 2 engages the sprocket wheel 2 and 2, thereby imparting motion to the distributing cylinder 7 through the connection just described from the supporting wheel 2. The manner of driving the apron shaft 4 from the distributing cylinder shaft 6, through a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by an eccentric rod, and the means for regulating the feed of the apron, are clearly: illustrated and described in an application filed by us October 12, 1906, Serial No. 338,548, patented March 19, 1907, No. 847,323, Fertilizer distributer, and hence the present description of these parts will be brief. On the stub shaft 8 is journaled the combined ratchet and b'evel gear 5 9, to which movement is imparted by the toothed eccentric link 10, thislink being driven by means of the eccentric 11 on the cylinder shaft 6. The link 10 is bifurcated at its lower end, each arm thereof being provided with a toothed rack 11, which meshes with the corresponding toothed segment 12 on the pawl arms 12. These pawl arms (see Fig. 7) are pivotally mounted and oppositely disposed on the stub shaft 8, so that when-a reciprocating motion is given the link 10 by the eccentric 11, it will impart a rocking movement to the pawl arms. On the pawl arms 12 are mounted the pawls 13, which are adapted toengage the ratchet portion of the gear and ratchet 9; To regulate the extent of'effective movement of the pawls 13 on the ratchet gear 9 a cam lever 14 (see Figs. 6 and 7) is pivotally mounted on the stub shaft 8, this lever being provided with the cam surfaces 14, each of whichis adapted to engage the toe of one of the pawls l3'and prevent it from engaging the said ratchet gear 9 for a portion of the stroke of said pawl, the extent depending upon the positionof the cam lever. The cam lever 14 is provided with a toothed segment 14 which meshes with the gear segment 15, the latter being pivotally mounted on the-apron-shaft 4 and controlled by its connection with the arm 16 ofthe angle lever16, which is mounted on the rock shaft 17. V The link 18 forms an operative connection between the arm 16.of the angle-lever 16 and the gear segment 15.- Movement of the hand lever 19 onthe forward end of themachine, which is mounted on the rock shaft 20, will thus control the position of the said cam lever and determine the effective throw of the pawls and hence regulate the speed of the-rearward movement of the apron 3. For a more complete description of the principles involved in the foregoing construction and the operation of the apron feed andv means for'regulating the same, reference is also made to the applicationifiled by applicants February 3, 1906, 'Serial No. 299,253 patented March 5, 1907, N0. 846,188.

On the stub shaft 8 is also mounted the casting 21, which forms a journal bearing for the vibratory worm shaft 22 and a housing for the pinion 23 fixed thereto. The pinion 23 meshes with and is driven by the bevel gear portion of the gear and ratchet 9, and thus imparts gages the roller 22 on the collar 22 and the roller 26 on the casting 26 forces the worm 24 into engagement with the worm gear 5; while the coil spring 27 operates to hold same normally out of engagement. The bar 25.

is mounted atits lower end on the upwardly extending arm of the angle lever 16 on the 'rock shaft 17. A depending arm 28, secured to theinner end of the rock shaft 17, in connection with the rod 29, forms an operative connection between the rock shaft 17, on which is mounted the angle lever 16, and the hand lever 19 on the forward end of the machine; It will thus be seen that movement of this hand lever 19 will rock the angle lever 16, thereby producing endwise movement of the bar 25, and'thus effect engagement and disengagement of the apron driving mechanism from the apron shaft. The interposed mechanism, including the eccentric link 10, the pawl arms 12, the pawlsj13,: the ratchet gear 9, the vibratory worm shaft22, and other parts associated therewith, form collectively the mechanism for driving the apron rearwardly. The cam lever 14, and parts for operating same, constitute the mechanism for regulating the feed of the apron rearwardly, and will be noted that both devices are operated by'the same hand lever. These parts iust described are all set forth in the applications to which referencehas-been made,

and hence no novelty to these parts is claimed except the relation which they and the means for operating same bear to the pawl which prevents the rearward movement of theapron when the apron driving mechanism has been disengaged from the apron shaft 4. On a forwardly projecting lug 26 on the fixed casting 26 is pivotally mounted the depending pawl 30, which is arranged to engage the worm wheel 5. This pawl may be heldinto engagement with the said worm wheel by a spring or other means, but preferably by the forwardly extending weightarm 30 which thus makes it a gravity pawl, as the weight of this arm will operate to hold the pawl 30 into engagement with the wormwheel. To disengage this gravity pawl from the worm wheel an arm 16 is formed integral with and extends rearwardly from the-angle lever 16 on the rock shaft 17. This arm 16 is adapted to engage the under side of the weight arm 30 of the gravity pawl 30, lifting said arm and disengaging the pawl from the worm wheel whenever the arm thrown into engagement with the worm wheel, and the v The wider portion of the bar 25, above the shoulder 25 thereon, en- 1 gravity pawl will be thrown into engagement when the said worm is' thrown out. It will also be observed that this gravity pawl is controlled by the same angle lever 16 that controls the feed regulating mechanism and the apron driving mechanism, and that they are all controlled by a single hand lever 19.

In front of the distributing cylinder 7 is mounted a vertically movable endgate 31, this endgate and its mountings constituting one of theprincipal novel features of the invention. The-mountings of this endgate and means for operating same will now be described. At the rear end of the body, and on each side thereof, is secured a bracket 32, this bracket being secured to the body by means of the bolts 32. In each bracket is formed the slot 33, which extends upwardly and rearwardly from its rearward end. In these slots are mounted the rock shaft 34, which extends transversely of the body of the machine. The endgate supporting levers 35 (only that one on the right-hand side of themachine being shown) are fixed to said rock shaft near each end thereof, and on the inside of the bracket, these levers each comprising the long arm 35, on the rear ends of which are pivotally hung the said endgate 31 and the short arms 35 The short arms are connected to the bracket32 by means of the link 36, the aggregate length of the said link and short arms :being greater than the distance between the rock shaft 34, when in its rearward position, and the fixed end of the said link. The function of this link 36 aud the short arm 35* is to provide a movable fulcrum for the endgate as it is being raised. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1 that as soon as the rock shaft 34 is rotated the link will draw the same toward the upper end of the slot 33, or from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of the same figure. A smaller slot 37 is formed at the forward end of the bracket 32, and on the inside thereof, and is arranged transversely with respect to the first mentioned slot 33. A hanger 38, which is fixed to the upper end of the endgate 31, forms the pivotal connection for the front end trolling rod, operate to hold the endgate 31 rigidly against the load when the said endgate is in its lower position; but after the endgate has been raised 3 or 4 inches the inclination of the rod 39 in the slot 37 will be suflicient to permit the bent end of the rod 39 to slide upwardly in the said slot and thus allow the lower end of the endgate to swing freely rearwardly; that is,.it will be transformed from a rigid to a floating endgate, rigid in its lower position and floating in itsupper position. The floating feature of the endgate makes it serve the well understood function of rakes in this connection. The slot 37 not only enables the endgate to float when in its raised position, but also permits the said endgate to be raised bodily on its movable fulcrum from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position shown in the same figure. -On the right-hand end of the rock shaft 34 is fixed the upwardly extending arm 40, which connects with the means for operating the said endgate. The parts just described may. be regarded as the mountings for the endgate, and it will be seen that these mountings in elude a movable fulcrum, the fulcrum being formed by the rock shaft 34-.

1 o operatethe endgatea lever 41 isipivotally mountedon a fixed'part of the spreader body, preferably on the frame casting 41 the upper end of this lever con necting through the rod 42 with the end of the arm 40 on the rock shaft 34. A rod 43 extends from a point intermediate of the length of the lever 41 forwardly to the front end of the machine, where it connects with the arm 44 ofthe foot lever-.44; foot lever isarranged withinconvenient. reach of the operator, as is ,also the hand lever 19, and near the fulcrum point of the said lever 44, and movable with said-foot lever, .is the stop lug 45. In ,the full line position of the foot lever in 3 the stop lug'45 is shown in engagement with the hand lever 19, When the foot lever 44 occupiesthis position the endgate will be down in position to hold the rear end of the loadaway fromthe beater,

the worm 24 on the vibratory worm shaft 22 will, be out of engagement with the worm gear 5 and'the gravity pawl will be in engagement therewithfand the stop lug 45 will lock the hand lever 19 against forward movement. The foot lever therefore locks the hand leveragainst movement and the operative parts of the ma chine are held out of engagement until after the endgate has been raised. A depression of the foot lever will now raise the endgate, and in raisingthe end atethe shaft 34 will he slid upwardly and rearwardly in the slot 33 by means of the link 36. This upward and. rearward movement of the fulcrum of the 'endgate mountings occurs simultaneouslywith the raising of the endgate as distinguished from a longitudinal move-l mentpf the endgate precedinglthe upward movement thereof. The upward movement of. the fulcrum or rock'shaft 34 not only enables theendgate to be raised 1 with less relative movement of the levers controlling same, .but will also elevate both. the rock shaft and the I endgate to a higher position and the. iulcrumto a position in which it will not obstructthe rearwardly moving load. After the foot lever 14-1138 been depressed the-hand lever may be moved forwardly by the operator, which will effect the engagement ofthe worm 24 with the worm wheel 5 and disengage the pawl 30 from said gear, as heretofore describedr V I We are aware that a construction'inwhich the endgate' controlling rod,.wi th the other endgate supporting;

' trolling the position of said endgate, a driving mechanism trlbuting cylinder located at -the rear end, of said body, a

pivotally hung, vertically movable endgate arrangedlin' What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: v

1. 'In a fertilizer distributer, in combination, a body, a movable apron mounted in the bottom thereof, a distributing cylinder mounted on a shaft journaled in the rear end of said body, means for driving thedistributing 1" cylinder, an apron shaft on which the rear end-of said apron is supported,'a vertically movable endgate mounted in front of said distributing cylinder, 8. foot lever for con- 4 interposed between the distributing cylinder shaft and the apron shaft, device forregula'clngthe speed of said driving connection, a pawl for locking the apron shaft against rearward movement, a single hand lever for engaging and disengaging said driving connection from the apron shaft, for controlling the speed regulating devlce and for disengaging the pawl, the said foot lever v whenholding the endgate in its lower or normal position being'adapted to also lock the said hand lever against movement to engage said driving connection. 2. In a fertilizer distributor, .in combination, a;body,. n a movable apron mounted in the-bottom thereof, a distributing cylinder located at the rear end of said body, a pivotally hung, verticallymovable endgate arranged in front of said cylinder mountings for said endgate, sa'id mountings including a movable fulcrum and a link engaging at one end a transversely extending slot and at the other endconnectlng with the'endgate below its pivotalbearlngs. for holding same rigidly when in its lower position and for permitting same to float when in -its raised position and for raising and lowering said endgate;

3. In a fertilizer distributer, in combination, a body a movable apronmounted in the bottom thereof,a dis-' front of said cylinder, mountings for said ejndgate, said. mountings including a forwardly and upwardly movable rock shaft, an arm on said rock shaft, .a link connecting said arm to a fixed point on the frame for eifecting the. sliding movement of the "rockshaft,. means; for limiting the rearward swinging movement of the lower side of the endgate when in its lower positiomand for permitting it to' swing freely to a limited-extent when in its upper posltion, and a lever connection'for raising andlowering said endgate. v.

I 4. In a fertilizer distributer, in combination, a-body,

a 'movable .apron mounted in thebottomthereof, a distributing cylinder located at the rear end of said body, I endgate mountings comprising'side brackets, each pro vided with a forwardly and upwardly inclined slot and a, lower slot transversely inclined with respect to the first mentioned slot, a rock shaft fulcrumed in the upwardly inclined slots, levers, each, having a long and a short arm fixedto saidrock shaft, an endgate pivotally hung on 1-1 the rearends of the long arms oi' sald levers," links connecting the short arms to fixed points on the brackets,

and Units engaging at one end thesaid lower transversely inclined slots and at the other end engaging with the endgute, and a lever having opcrative.connection with the rock shaft for raising and lowering said cndgnte.

SAMUEL DENNIS. FRANK'W. men.

Witnesses:

Janus A. Moxnr, Crmnnns H. Mandolin. 

